Bottle crushing device



April 5, 1949. w. CARMEL BOTTLE CRUSHING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 19, 1946 April 5, 1949. w. CARMEL BOTTLE CRUSHING DEVICE 2 Sheets$heet 2 Filed Dec. 19, 1 946 Patented Apr. 5, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOTTLE CRUSHING DEVICE Wiliiarn Carmel, Chicago, 111. Application December 19, 1946, Serial No. 717,258

2 Claims.

This invention relates to bottle crusher apparatus and is particularly useful in the crushin of bottles so that the fragments thereof are disposed within a separable hopper.

An object of the invention is to provide bottle crusher apparatus of simple structure wherein the crushing operation is accomplished within a closed housing through mechanism actuated in the raising and lowering of a cover or top. Yet another object is to provide a structure in which a separable hopper is employed as a bottle receiving means and a detachable crusher mechanism is supported upon the hopper for use in demolishing bottles, glass containers, and other containers of a fragile character. Yet another bjeot is to provide container crushing mechanism which is adapted to be supported in cocked position through the raising of the top of the casing and the crushing device placed under tension and released during the downward movement of the top structure. Other specific objects and advantages Will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, by the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a broken and partly vertical sectional view; Fig. 3, a broken longitudinal sectional view, the crusher being shown in lowermost position; Fig. l, a broken View similar to Fig. 3 but showing the top and crusher member in raised position; and Fig. 5, a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the top in partially lowered position.

In the illustration given, structure; and B designates a mechanism.

The hopper structure A may form or construction.

In the illustration given, it comprises a casing I0 of the general contour illustrated and preferably provided at its front and rear side with inwardly formed recesses H providing handles for the hopper. The hopper is provided with a pair of metal straps l2 and [3 which are secured to the upper ends of the hopper and extend downwardly and across the hopper to provide a cradle adapted to receive the bottle is which is to be crushed. If desired, the metal strap I2 may be provided with a transverse strip I5 engaging the forward end of the bottle so as to locate it in position. It will be understood that any suitable A designates a hopper detachable crusher be of any suitable supporting means within the hopper for holding the bottle or other container which is to be crushed may be employed.

he bottle crusher structure B may be of any suitable form or construction. In the illustration given, the structure 33 is provided with a perimetric frame 56 adapted to extend around the top portion of the hopper A and to rest upon the top of the hopper. Ihe member B is provided with a top casing Wall H which is fixed to and forms a continuation of the perimetric frame H3. In order to releasably lock the top wall ll upon the hopper structure A, the top frame may be provided with a spring latch member l8 adapted to releasably engage the spaced flange members it carried by the hopper A, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2. It will be understood that any suitable means for releasably securing the hopper A and structure B may be employed.

The top casing wall H is apertured longitudinally of the structure to provide a cover or top receiving recess 23, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2. Within the recess 28 is mounted a top or hood member 2i pivotally connected at 22 to the perimetric frame it, as shown best in Fig. 3.

Mounted upon the perimetric frame [6 is a looped metal support member to which is pivotally secured at 2 a bottle crusher or hammer 25. The crusher 25 is provided at its forward end with a weighted portion a apted to be brought into contact with the bottle or other container to crush it, and at its upper side with a latch notch 21. Pivotally supported at 28 upon the member 23 is a latch bar 29 having a transverse flange 38 adapted to engage the notch 21 when the hood or top 2! is raised to position as shown in Fig. 4. A spring 35 normally urges the latch 29 toward the position shown in Fig. 4.

Fixed to the hood or top 2 is a latch release bracket 32 adapted to engage the rear portion of the latch bar 29 and to release the latch from engagement with notch 21 when the top 2! is lowered toward its extreme lower position.

Fixed to the side walls of the top 2| and extending there across is a metal strap 33 and the strap 33 carries a resilient cushion 34 adapted to receive the central portion of the striker 25 as indicated best in Fig. 3. Fixed to the cross strap 33 are the tension springs 35, the upper ends of the springs being secured to the striker or crusher 25.

The hood member 2i may be provided at its forward end with a projecting handle piece 36 to facilitate the raising and lowering of the member 2|.

Operation In the operation of the device, the top 2| is raised, as indicated in Fig. 4, this movement resulting in the raising also of the crusher member 25 as illustrated best in Fig. 4. As the strap 33 elevates the member 25 to the position shown, spring 3| draws the pivoted latch member 29 downwardly so that its central flange 39 enters the recess 21 and locks the member 25 in elevated position. At this time, the bottle 14 may be inserted in position as illustrated best in Figs. 4 and 5. The top 2| may then be pressed downwardly, as shown in Fig. 5, and during this operation the springs 35 are placed under tension. At the same time, the cross strap or bracket 32 carried by the member 2| finally moves into the released position illustrated in Fig. 5. At this point it depresses the rear end of latch 29 so that the forward flange 30 thereof leaves the notch 21 of the striker member 25. Upon the release of the member 25, the striker is drawn downwardly to the position illustrated in Fig. 3, in which it strikes and shatters the bottle M or other container carried by the straps I2 and I3. Further downward movement of the member 25 is prevented by the strap 33 and the noise of the impact is cushioned by the pad 34. The shattered bottle or container falls into the bottom of the hopper A.

After the desired number of containers or bottles have been shattered, the top portion 13 of the structure may be separated from the hopper A by simply raising structure B. The catch I8 is thus frictionally released from the spaced members I9 and the entire top portion 13 is removed. The hopper A may then be carried conveniently to a point for disposal of the fractured containers. Reassembly is the reverse of the operation described, the latch 18 being forced by the spring members |9 into the locking position shown in Fig. 2.

In the operations described, it will be noted that the breaking of the bottle occurs only after the closure of the top is effected so that glass splinters cannot escape in any way outside of the casing. Further, while the top is in the raised position shown in Fig. 4, there is no danger of breaking of the container because the striker 25 is not only engaged by the latch member 29 but also is free of tension. The placing of the member 25 under tension by reason of the stretching of springs 35 occurs only when the bottle is in position for breaking and when the member 2| is in the lower range of its movement.

With the structure described, the member 2| maybe operated easily and slowly, the force for propelling the member 25 being generated within the spring members 35 as the top 2| is lowered. The structure 2| does not have to be swung violently in order to produce the crushing action but rather may be operated slowly or at any desired speed, the crushing operation being independent of the speed of the movement of member 2|.

The apparatus is extremely simple, positive in action and permits the ready disassembly of the parts after the desired amount of crushing has been completed.

While in the specific illustration given, I have set out certain structure in great detail to show one mode of use of the invention, it will be understood that such details may be varied widely by thos skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In crusher apparatus, a hopper, means carried by said hopper for suspending a bottle therein for breaking, a perimetric frame releasably mounted upon said hopper, a casing carried by said frame, a hood movably mounted within said casing, a standard mounted upon said perimetric frame, a striker member pivotally mounted upon said standard, a latch member pivotally mounted for engagement with said striker to. maintain the same in raised position, and spring means connected to said striker and to said hood for placing tension upon said spring when said hood is lowered, and means carried by said hood for releasing said latch when said hood moves toward its lowermost position.

2. In crusher apparatus, a hopper, means carried by said hopper for suspending a bottle within the hopper for breaking, a perimetric frame mounted upon said hopper, a casing carried by said frame, a hood movably mounted within said casing, a standard mounted upon said perimetric frame, a striker member pivotally mounted upon said standard, a latch member pivotally mounted for engagement with said striker to maintain the same in raised position, a strap extending across the lower portion of said hood for lifting said striker, spring means connected to said striker and to said strap for increasing the tension upon said spring as the hood is lowered, and means carried by said hood for releasing said latch when said hood moves toward its lowermost position.

WILLIAM CARMEL.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Date Number Name 2,135,404 Lofstrand Nov. 1, 1938 2,142,915 Ospalewiez Jan. 3, 1939 2,168,026 Fritz Aug. 1, 1939 2,177,926 Heman Oct. 31, 1937 2,190,971 Boedeker Feb. 20, 1940 2,225,934 Stark Dec. 24, 1940 

